The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Robert A. Yates (MCSN: 388064), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Aircraft Group TWENTY-THREE during the bombing of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, by enemy Japanese forces on the night of 13 – 14 October 1942. When a direct bomb hit demolished a dugout in which six men had taken shelter, Private Yates answered a call for assistance and worked tirelessly to uncover four of the men still buried in the debris. Exposed to enemy shells from aircraft and surface vessels and lacking tools, he dug with his bare hands in a desperate but vain attempt to extricate his comrades. His great courage and heroic devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.